Monday, April 19, 2010

IT PAYS TO READ THE FINE PRINT

"By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamestation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions."

Our valued pal UK Steve sent us the story of how the Brit chain of video game retail stores GameStation inserted the above clause into their terms and conditions earlier this month grantong them legal rights to the immortal souls of thousands of their online customers. (As a gag we hasten to add.) They further specified that they might serve such notice in “six foot-high letters of fire” too, but also offered customers an chance to opt out, rewarding them with a £5 money-off voucher if they did. Alas, hardly anyone noticed the clause, let alone the bonus for spotting the jest. According to GameStation, around 7,500 customers carelessly signed their souls away. (Click here for Yahoo report.)